China thanked Nepal on Wednesday for its rescue and relocation efforts following a severe mudslide disaster that hit Chinese-Nepal border areas last week and left Chinese citizens missing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said.
A fast-moving chain mudslide, triggered by a high-altitude glacier collapse in Nepal, struck Gyirong Port on the China-Nepal border in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on Aug. 26, causing heavy casualties and leaving hundreds of people missing.
"So far, a total of 261 foreign nationals from 23 countries have been identified as unaccounted for in the disaster-stricken areas in China. China stands ready to maintain communication and coordination with all parties, and work together to carry out the screening and aftermath handling for the missing persons," Guo said at a press conference in Beijing.
"As of now, nearly 100 Chinese citizens remain missing in the disaster-stricken areas of Nepal. China wants to express its gratitude and hopes that the Nepali side will continue to rescue and transfer Chinese citizens in Nepal," Guo said.
China thanks Nepal's efforts to assist, transfer Chinese citizens in mudslide disaster
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into Tesla's certification that its new Cybercab meets all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).
The probe, formally designated as an Audit Query, was opened on Sept. 3 and covers an estimated 1,000 Cybercab vehicles, according to an NHTSA investigation document made public on Friday. It will examine the process and technical data Tesla relied upon when certifying the Cybercab, as well as related issues. Tesla began commercial deployment of a small number of Cybercab vehicles in Austin, Texas, on Thursday and notified the agency that it had certified the vehicles as compliant with all applicable FMVSS. Tesla also told the NHTSA that it plans to gradually expand commercial deployment of the Cybercab to include additional vehicles and locations.
The vehicles lack permanently attached conventional manual controls, such as a brake pedal, gas pedal, steering wheel and mirrors, according to the NHTSA.
The agency said the inquiry will examine, among other issues, the extent to which Tesla's certification depended on determinations that certain FMVSS are inapplicable to the Cybercab.
In the United States, the NHTSA establishes vehicle performance requirements, while automakers must certify that their vehicles meet applicable standards before entering the U.S. market, subject to agency oversight to confirm compliance. The NHTSA said it conducts investigations when certified vehicles appear not to adhere to those requirements.
U.S. regulator opens probe into Tesla Cybercab self-certification
